Malawi’s Flames face Ethiopia in international friendly

The Malawi national football team, known as the Flames, are in Ethiopia for the first of two international friendlies against the hosts on Saturday

The match takes place at Dire Dawa Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 local time. A second fixture between the sides is set for 9 June.

Head coach Kalisto Pasuwa has selected a 23-man squad that mixes experienced players with several new call-ups, as Malawi prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this year

Pasuwa said the friendlies are an opportunity to assess a wider pool of players. “Like I said, we know them already, we know their weaknesses and strengths. We thought we should give others a chance so that we can have a pool before we play our qualifiers,” he stated.

The squad includes 14 foreign-based players and maiden call-ups for Luciano Matthew Rundles, Christopher Kumwembe and Francisco Madinga

Squad

Goal Keepers: George Medulla Chikooka (Silver Strikers), William Thole (Simba Bhora FC), Joshua Waka (Ekhaya FC)

Defenders:Charles Petro (FC Botoșani), Dennis Chembezi (Al-Nasiriyah FC), Emmanuel Nyirenda (Mighty Wanderers), Washali Jaziya (Nankatsu SC), Macdonald Lameck (Silver Strikers)

Midfielders: Blessings Singini (Mighty Wanderers), Dominic Lloyd Njaliwa (Caps United), Yankho Singo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Festus Duwe (Silver Strikers), Francisco Madinga (Kansanshi Dynamos FC), Lloyd Banega Aaron (Al-Sadaqa Shahat SC), Mwisho Mhango (Hannover 96)

Forwards:Babatunde Adepoju (Venda Academy), Christopher Jacama Kumwembe (Green Buffaloes), Ephraim Kondowe (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Wise Dinho Mpinganjira (Black Bulls), Gaddie Chancy Chirwa (Mighty Wanderers), Chifundo Mphasi (Power Dynamos), Robert Saizi (Zanaco), Luciano Matthew Rundles (Kalonji Soccer Academy)

Players to watch

Mwisho Mhango (Hannover 96): The forward brings European experience and goal-scoring ability.

Charles Petro (FC Botoșani) and Dennis Chembezi: Key defenders with foreign club experience who are expected to anchor the backline.

Yankho Singo and Blessings Singini: Midfielders capable of controlling the game’s tempo.

New call-ups Luciano Matthew Rundles, Christopher Kumwembe and Francisco Madinga: Expected to be given opportunities to impress.

The Flames will be looking to test combinations and build confidence ahead of competitive fixtures.